Biometric Risk Factors Found in Low Myopia in Chinese Children

Some ortho-K wearers with low myopia had a faster axial length growth than those with moderate myopia; therefore, low myopia ortho-K wearers should pay more attention to the effect of the axial length controlling. Photo: Robert Ensley, OD, and Heidi Miller, OD. Click image to enlarge. Apart from peripheral myopic defocus, many believe that there is a lack of reported evidence on which biometric features and behavioral indicators critically influence the effectiveness of orthokeratology (ortho-K) treatment in low myopia. Recognizing these key biometric features can help eye doctors identify patients at high risk of rapid axial length progression, enabling more frequent follow-ups and timely adjustments in treatment protocols. A recent study published in Eye & Contact Lens aimed to identify the key demographic, biometric and behavioral factors that impact the treatment effect of ortho-K in low myopia.This study, conducted among a Chinese population, revealed that individuals with low myopia had a greater annual axial length growth than those with moderate myopia under the identical ortho-K treatment conditions. Young age, female sex, flat mean K and the presence of two myopic parents were demographic and biometric risk factors in myopia control. Interestingly, the researchers considered increased consumption of white meat a protective and controlled behavioral indicator for children with low myopia. They also noted that a combined treatment approach involving atropine eye drops and ortho-K could yield a more efficacious outcome than ortho-K monotherapy in patients at this stage of the condition.This 12-month retrospective study examined 380 children between the ages of eight and 15 (average 12.23 years) who received ortho-K treatment. The researchers defined low and moderate myopia as SER of -0.50D to -3.00D and -3.25D to -5.75D, respectively. A cut-off value of 0.20mm/year was used to define slow (≤0.2mm/year) and rapid (>0.2mm/year) axial length groups. In this study, the patients were stratified according to the degree of myopia and the cut-off values of axial length.Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that ortho-K only was 2.23 times more likely to have rapid axial growth than ortho-K combined with 0.01% atropine in patients with low myopia (odds ratio; OR: 2.23). Multinomial logistic regression analyses showed that in patients with low myopia, female sex (OR: 0.4), young age (OR: 0.79), flatter K mean (OR: 0.74) and having two myopic parents (OR: 0.18) were associated with worse treatment outcomes. A diet rich in white meats, such as fish and duck (OR: 0.06), was a protective behavioral factor associated with slower axial length growth in children with low myopia.“These findings highlight the need for a prompt and strategic response to prevent axial length growth in patients with one or more of the biometric risk factors,” the researchers wrote in their paper. “Simultaneously, it is essential to address behavioral factors that can slow myopia progression.”They concluded that their findings provided valuable insights for timely and effective adjustments in low myopia control strategies for children and adolescents.Click here for the journal source. Fan y, Li X, Chen S, et al. Factors influencing ortho-k treatment in low myopia and management approaches. Eye Contact Lens. July 18, 2025. [Epub ahead of print]. This article was developed by the editorial staff in conjunction with experts in the field. In the process, AI may have been among the editorial tools used to meet the goals of human editors, who approved all content.